Department History | City of Independence, MO

The History of IPD

This is an exact copy of the ordinance that created the Independence Police Department over 140 years ago, complete with unusual punctuation, spelling and capitalization. We hope you enjoy it.

An Ordinance, Repealing an Ordinance entitled:
"Night Watch" Approved Nov. 1st 1878

Be it ordained by the Mayor and Councilmen of the City of Independence as follows,
Sec. 1. That all Sections of the Ordinance entitled "Night Watch" as published in the General Ordinances of the City are hereby repealed the Ordinance made void.
Sec. 2. All Officers appointed under the terms of said Ordinance are hereby discharged.
Sec. 3. This Ordinance to be in force from and after its passage.

Attest                               Approved August 8th 1882
James F. Armstrong      Jas. Peacock
Register.                          Mayor

5 Police officers standing in front of building

An Ordinance Entitled "Police"

Be it ordained by the Mayor and Councilmen of the City of Independence as follows,
Section 1. The police force of the City shall consist of not more than five men, of good moral character at least twenty-one years of age. They shall be appointed by the Mayor, by and with the advice & consent of the Council.

Section 2. The duty of the police shall be to strictly watch the City such days & nights as the Mayor may from time to time direct, and when called upon to watch any particular day or night they shall watch from 6 P.M. to 6 A.M. if at night & from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. if in day time.

Section 3. Before entering upon their duties they shall take an Oath, faithfully to discharge their duties as police, and to give information to the Mayor of all violations of the City Ordinances coming within their knowledge.

Section 4. The City Marshall shall be Ex Officis Chief of Police and All Officers are required to obey all lawful orders given to them by the Marshall.

Section 5. The Police shall have power, And it is hereby made their duty, to arrest any person violating any of the City Ordinances, Whether it be day or night, And keep him or her in custody until it is Convenient to bring such person before the mayor.

Section 6. Every officer employed on the force shall be entitled to receive for his services, for every night or day he shall be on actual duty, the sum of $1.30 payable out of the Current expense fund, By the words day & night in this section is meant 12 hours each.

Section 7. This Ordinance is to be in force from and After its passage.

Attest                                 Approved August 8th 1882
James F. Armstrong      Jas. Peacock
Register.                           Mayor